Bicycle Helmet Recall from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research.

In preparation of the Council of the Federation starting today in Victoria, please read the news release from the Canadian Medical Association (pdf) on a new public opinion poll showing that Canadians overwhelmingly agree that governments should adopt principles to make the health care system more centred on the needs of patients. Full results and questions can be accessed at: http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=5469.

Regards,
François Lessard
Senior Advisor, Advocacy and Public Affairs│Conseiller principal, Représentation et affaires publiques
Canadian Medical Association│Association médicale canadienne
613 731-8610 │800 663-7336 ext./poste 2261
francois.lessard@cma.ca
www.cma.ca
1867 prom. Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1G 5W8
Faites-vous entendre : www.transformationsante.ca
Have your say: www.healthcaretransformation.ca

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) today announced that 14 patient advocacy groups are raising their voices in support of a set of common principles developed by Canada’s physicians and nurses to guide the transformation of the health care system to make it centred on the needs of patients. The news release is attached.

-Growing Support for principles to guide transformation of the health care system (pdf)
-Appui croissant en faveur des principes devant guider la transformation du système de santé (pdf)

Regards,
François Lessard
Senior Advisor, Advocacy and Public Affairs│Conseiller principal, Représentation et affaires publiques
Canadian Medical Association│Association médicale canadienne
613 731-8610 │800 663-7336 ext./poste 2261
francois.lessard@cma.ca
www.cma.ca
1867 prom. Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1G 5W8
Have your say: www.healthcaretransformation.ca

Brain Injury Association of Canada encourages widespread common sense

OTTAWA _ The Brain Injury Association of Canada invites Canadians to keep their heads up over the holidays and avoid close calls that could turn catastrophic. “Making sure that Canadians are aware of their surroundings,” said Harry Zarins, executive director of the national nonprofit. “Drive safely, be aware of icy conditions in a vehicle and on foot, and wear a helmet for all winter recreational sports.”

Of the 18,000 hospital stays every year due to traumatic brain injuries, 6,500 Canadians are permanently disabled, with total costs estimated at more than three billion dollars.

Youth, young adults and seniors are most at risk. In the majority of cases there is no turning back.

Heads Up Holidays 2011-2012 Audio

Zarins said hockey and sport has created an opening for dialogue that allows for freer discussion about a wide spectrum of brain injuries and the often far-reaching effects.

“It takes a long time to recover … and we do still have a lot to learn.”

Harry Zarins
Executive Director
Brain Injury Association of Canada
613-762-1222
info@biac-aclc.ca

Open the above images as a single PDF file: Acquired Brain Injury Research Lab, Improving the quality of life of persons with acquired brain injury (pdf)

 
 
 
 
 
 
Please listen to this 30 second message about the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims.

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NHCC/NPHSNC Summary

In their 2006 publication Neurological Disorders: Public Health Challenges, the World Health Organization concluded that “a large body of evidence shows that policymakers and health-care providers may be unprepared to cope with the predicted rise in the prevalence of neurological and other chronic disorders and the disability resulting from the extensions of life expectancy and aging populations globally.”

To address this issue, and the present-day needs of the over 10 million Canadians living with a brain condition, a group of neurological health charities came together in 2008 to collaborate as Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC). The NHCC is a collective of organizations that represent people with chronic, often progressive, neurological and/or neuromuscular diseases, disorders, conditions and injuries in Canada.

NHCC’s role is to provide leadership in evaluating and advancing new opportunities for collaboration specific to advocacy, education and research projects related to brain health. Its mission has been to improve the quality of life for all persons with chronic brain conditions, and their caregivers, by elevating brain health to the top of government agendas. This is to be done by increasing awareness, influencing government decision makers regarding brain health and ensuring that research, prevention, treatments and supports for those living with chronic brain conditions are universally accessible and fully funded.

In 2009, NHCC was granted $15M to fund a national study aimed at filling in gaps in knowledge about the state of neurological conditions in Canada. Called the National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions, this four-year study will provide new information to improve knowledge about the impact of current and projected neurological diseases over the next twenty years. The funding serves to support three national surveys, thirteen Pan Canadian Research Studies, a Micro-Simulation Project before concluding with a Synthesis Process to be submitted as a formal report of recommendations to the Minister of Health.

Concluding in 2013, this study is the first of its kind in Canada where it will provide key information to improve current knowledge on neurological conditions. Of the seventeen projects listed above, thirteen will generate data related to Brain Injury. The NHCC has made a long-term commitment to furthering Canada’s understanding of neurological disease. It plans to strengthen itself by building a strong membership, formalizing governance, increasing member engagement and supporting active provincial working groups.

It will continue to advance policy priorities by building stronger relationships with Parliamentarians, cultivating new political and bureaucratic champions as well as engaging the Health Portfolio leadership in strategic dialogue. Finally, the NHCC will persist at building a profile of brain conditions in Canada and strengthen the national brain community network.